Tensile testing machine



May 28, 1946. R. CUMMINGS TENSILE TESTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 11, 1944 SSheets-Sheet 1 0 000A%OO ATTORNEY 3" Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 11, 1944 I ,0 9 J 0 w a 5 2 ,0 7 0 3. 3 6 0 2 M P, 3 2 I b ATTORNEY May 28, 1946. R. CUMMINGS I TENSILE TESTING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 11, 1944 INVENTOR. L0 C ummzrzys ATORNEY I Patented May 28, 1946 v Curtiss-Wright Delaware Corporation, at corporation of 1 Application Muss lame's ls'iises some .0 la-:95) I This invention relates to tensile strength testing devices and more particularly to a testing machine whereby articles comprising a plurality of pieces joined together by means of-a soldered joint or a mechanically crimped joint, may .be

tested for possible weakness in such junctures'.

The primary object of the invention is to pro:

vide a testing machine as aforesaid wherebyiuniform tests as to the strength of a solderedor, crimped joint may be readily made by an: unskilled operator at a constant repetitive rate.

A further object of the invention is to provide a testing machine as specified which is compact, simple 'in construction and operation, quickly supplied with an article to be tested, automatic in operation and wherein a positively timed intermittent cycle of operation occurs to permit introduction of a specimen without stopping the motor. v y

Another object of the invention is to provide a testing machine as specified wherein a color indication comes into view periodically to signal the .ionand I 'FigL'lis a sid gReferring'tot I v Fig; '1, a testing machine constructed in' accord- Fig. 6 is a front elev'ationa'i view of the testin machine substantially'ienc losed in acasing theretuted for the guidebar shown fin Figs'. land 2.

drawings particularly to ance with the maiden; comprises a metallic base Plate'i0" havingfia fpairfof vertically disposed metallic platefrnembers l I and i2 bolted thereon in" transverse spaced relationyby means of the cap screws indicated]'at "l3.= The vertically disposed members H l2are joined in spaced reoperator of the beginning of a time interval, in

the cycle of operation, for placement in the machineof an article to be tested.

A further object of the invention is to provide a testing machine as specified which may be readily adjusted for the reception of articles, for test purposeawhich vary in length, diameter or shape, and wherein a dead weight may be increased or decreased in accordance with the test requirements for any particular type of article.

With these and other objects in view, the invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, the novel features of which are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and its method of operation, together with additional objects and' advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description of a specific embodi ment, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1. is a side elevational view of a testing machine'constructed in accordance with the in- ,lation at apoint substantially intermediate their length and also adjacent thei'ippermost free ends thereof-by -means :ojf suitable spacing belts or studs H and llwherebyito maintain said plate members rigid,

An angleplateiS having a short coiledspring n suitably attached thereto, is" secured to the rear face of the verticalplate member ll, substan tially intermediate its'length, by means of suitable screws It, the saidspring I! being disposed in an upright position wherebyit is adapted to serve as a yieldable buffer or support for an element hereinafter described; j

The upper end portion'of the vertically disposed plate member ii isfurtherprovided with I two pairs v of vertically and horizontally spaced rectangular projectionsl s, each pairbeing connected with; across-11:11:20 secured thereto by suitable screws, 2|- Thus, the projection i8 and j: the crosslinks 20' areadapted to provide 9. rectangular guidepassas'eflfor a slide'bar 22, as clearly shown in' Fig. 4. The upper end-portion of the slide'bar 22 "is bifurcatedpas at 23, for the pivotalreception oi? a segmental pulley or wheel. Moreover, thelower end portion of the slide bar 22 is also bifurcated for the pivotal reception of a rollerlles clearly shown in Figs. 1,

- 3 and 4 andfor apurpose hereinafter described;

vention and with an enclosing casing therefor in section; 1 v

i 2 is a front elevationalview of the same without the enclosure casing; a

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the linel-IofFisJ;

Fig. 4 is a similar vertical sectionalfview taken onthelinefl-JofFigJ; H

. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in elevation of the A stub snares}, a cam 21, and a s neva stop motion wheel 28, having a plurality of equally spaced'radiai slots 29- formed therein,

is-joumalled in and between the aforesaid plate members, Ii and I2. with the cam 21. in vertical alignment with the aforesaid roller 25 and in cooperative engsgement'therewith. As viewed in Fig. 1, the right hand end of the stub shaft 26 7 projects beyond the aforesaid plate member l2 for the fixed reception thereon of a disc "having a color segment II red forexample, painted on a article clamping and anchoring means per se; 86 white background or otherwise attached to the view-incl iation ofa modified form of guide'bar-which-zisfadapted to be substia to slidably receive the guide bar 44.

' A yok block 51 having Another stub shaft 32 having a spur gear 33 and a crank and 34 including a segmental disc 35, fixed thereon, is journalled in. and between the aforesaid plate members H and I2 adjacent the lowermost ends thereof preferably by means of a pair of anti-friction bearing members indicated at 39. The crank arm 34 is provided with a crank pin 31having a roller sleeve 39 journalled thereon, and disposed in alignment with the aforesaid stop motion wheel 29 whereby when the said crank arm 34 is rotated, the roller sleeve 39 will move into one of the aforesaid radial slots 29 formed in the stop motion wheel 29 and rotate the same a quarter of one revolution a will be understood.

A suitable electric motor 39 having a speed reduction gear box 49 associated therewith in-' cluding a drive shaft 4| provided with a pinion gear 42, is secured to the aforesaid base plate I0, by means of suitable cap screws 43, with the said pinion gear 42 disposed in meshed relation with the aforesaid spur gear 93, as clearly shown in Fig. l. s

A vertically disposed metallicguide bar 44 is also secured to the aforesaid base plate It, by

means of cap screws 45, in spaced, forward relation to the aforesaid plate member l2. The guide bar 44 is provided with a central elongated slot 45 and adapted toreceive in slidable engagement therewith an article ripping means, generally indicated at 41, which is adapted to be adJustably positioned onsaid'bar 44 and locked in place bymeans of suitaible bolts 45 in a well known manner. The aforesaid gripping means 41 consists of a metallic block 49 of T configuration having along its lower edge and thus secured thereto by means of suitable screws 59. In order that work to be tested may be attached or otherwise anchored to the work bar 59, a shouldered recess or slot 59 is provided in the bar 59, intermediate its ends, for the reception of a terminal clip, tip, plug, or similar terminal member usually soldered or crimped to one or both ends of an insulated conductor or wire C, as will be understood.

It is to be observed, however, that the aforesaid work anchoring bar 58 i attached to the a channel formed in one face thereof adapted] A pair of gear wheels 59, each having a metallic segment 5| riveted or otherwise secured thereto, as indicated at 52, are pivotally mounted on the front face of' the aforesaid; block 49, in diametrically opposite, meshed relation by means of the screw studs 53 as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 5( Each of the segments 5| is provided with a serrated arcuate edge 54, said edges. being formed on a center which is offset with respect to the axial center of the gear wheels59 whereby the said .arcuate edges 54 are eccentrically positioned relative to the periphery of the gear wheels 59, to develop points of maximum and minimum separation therebetween in accordance with the direction in which said gear wheels are partially rotated as will be understood.

A finger piece or handle H is riveted to'one of the gear wheels 59 whereby? the said gear wheels may be partially rotated, to move the segments 5| to a point of maximum separation between the serrated arcuate edges 54 and against the'action of a pair of retractile springs '55 each having one end thereof attached to one of the said gear wheels 59, and the other endof each spring 55 anchored to the aforesaid block 49 by means of suitable pins 59 as clearly shown in Fig. 5. 1

a rectangular opening therethrough and a work anchoring bar 59 associated therewith, is, also positioned on 'the aforesaid guide bar 44 for reciprocable movement on and along that portionof the said guide bar aforesaid-yoke block 5I'by the screws 59 in order that the said bar may b readily detached and a similar bar or the like having a diflerent form of recess therein, be substituted therefor whereby articles having a. differently shaped terminal member secured thereto, may be readily tested in a manner as hereinafter described.

When the article to be testedcomprises a conductor or cable C having a terminal member, as shown in Fig. 5 for example, on each end thereof, both terminal members may be tested simultaneously by substituting a work anchoring bar similar to the one shown at 59 in Fig. 5, for the gripping mechanism generally indicated at 41 as will be understood.

A metallic band, strap, or belt 9| having a suitable weight 92 attached to one end thereof by means of a suitable screw 63, passes over the aforesaid segmental pulley 24 and then downwardly wher its remaining free end is secured to the aforesaid yoke block 51 by means of a screw 94-as clearly shown in Fig. 5.

Finally, an angle bracket 65, having one end thereof secured to the uppermost end of the aforesaid guide bar '44 and its opposite end to the upper end portion of the aforesaid plate member l2, serves as a brace to maintain the said guide bar 44 rigid.

. As shown in Figs. 1 and 6, a suitable housing 99. having, a slot therein for clearing the aforesaid handle H is positioned over the machine to serve as a guard whereby to prevent possible injury to the fingers of the operator and to the mechanism as will be understood. A suitable toggle switch 91 adapted to control the aforesaid electric motor 39 is suitably attached to the side of the housing 99 and interconnected with said motor to a power line not shown. The front face of the aforesaidhousing 99 is provided with a clearance opening of suitable size to permit placement of an articleto be tested, and also with a sight The guide bar 44a is provided with a plurality of spaced, transverse I apertures 99, whereby a work anchoring block 91, having a transverse aperture therein, may be detachably secured to the said guide bar 441a in a predetermined position by means of a suitable pin P, which is adapted to be passed through the respective apertures as will be understood. The aforesaid block 61 is also provided with a detachable jaw 88 having a work attaching pin 59 associated therewith as 59 is arranged transversely of the yoke block 51 15 shown. The jaw 99 is adapted to be clamped tion to energize the motor 39;

to the block 61 by means of a screw 10 having a tapered head which cooperates with the angular bottom face of the jaw 68 as will be understood.

A yoke block 61a adapted to slide on and along the upper end portion of the guide bar a is slotted longitudinally for the slidable reception of said guide bar a, and retained thereon by means of a gib-plate 61b suitably secured to the rear face of the block Bid by means of the screws 61c. The yoke block 61a is also provided with a detachable jaw 08a having a work attaching pin "a associated therewith and adapted to be clamped to the block 61a by a screw Illa in a manner identical with that described in connection with the aforesaid jaw 68. As shown in Fig. 7, one end of the aforesaid belt 6| is attached to the yoke block 61a, whereby a pull is exerted on said yoke block as hereinbefore described in connection with Fig. 1.

In accordance with the invention, one complete cycle in .the operation of the improved testing machine will now be described.

Initially; the switch 61 is moved to on" posi- Assuming that the motor is running and that the red color designation 3|, carried by the disc- 30. appears in the sight aperture or window W, as. shown in Figs. 2 and 6. the'operator'is thereby informed that the machine is about to pull"and .not to insert an article between'the gripping means I! and the work anchoring bar 58. Immediately after the color designation 3| has passed the window W, the operator proceeds to insert an article C, as illustrated in Fig. 5, by way of example, by seating the terminal member, attached to the article, inthe recess 60 formed in the bar 58. The article is then grasped with the left hand and heldtaut while the handle H is moved upwardly, from the position shown in Fig. 2, with the right hand and so held while the article (insulated conductor) is positioned between the serrated segments il. When so positioned, the handle H is released whereupon the gear wheels 50 and-the segments 5!, carried thereby, are urged toward normal position by the springs 55 and the insulated conductor clamped therebetween. From an inspection of Fig. 5, it will be readily apparent that as soon as the article is placed under tension. it will be more firmly clamped between the serrated edges of the segments 5! as will be understood.

In the test operation above described, should the article be defective, the test pull exerted by the machine, will merely pull the terminal member free from the insulated conductor. Under such circumstances, the machine and/or its cycleof operation is not interrupted or effected. In the aforesaid cycle of operation, the mechanical movement is as follows:

Assume that the motor 39 is running and that the red color designation Ii appears in the sight aperture W asabove described. At this point, the crank arm 34 is in the position shown in Fig. 3 and rotating in the direction of the arrow.

After approximately three quarters of one revolution, the crank arm 34 again n a s t G n a wheel 2' to rotate the same counter-clockwise.

During this movement of the Geneva wheel 28,

the cam 21 raises the slide bar 22 and the segmental pulley 24 associated therewith, whereby the weight 82 is raised and a dead weight pull of twenty-five pounds, forexample, exerted on the specimen under test by way of the belt 6!. In the following revolution of the crank arm 34, the

.belt 6| relieved of the tension or pull thereon.

At this point, the red color designation 3i has passed the sight aperture or window Wand the operator may now remove the tested article and insert another one in the same manner.

While the invention has been described with respect to certain particular preferred examples which give satisfactory results, it will be understood by those skilled in the art after understanding the invention, that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and it is intended therefore in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is: In a device of the character described, an intermittent mechanism including a cam, a motor for driving said mechanismfa vertically re ciprocable slide bar including a roller coactable with said cam, a pulley pivotally mounted on said I slide ba a guide bar disposed adjacent said slide 1 adjustably fixed on said guide bar, a centrally 80 bar parallel therewith, a work gripping chuck recessed'work anchoring block slidably mounted on-' saidguide bar, a weight. means normally 1 supporting said weight, a flexible band disposed I I'onsaidpulley with the ends thereof secured to said weight and said anchoring block respectively, said slide bar being adapted to periodically elevate said'weight in response to the operation of said cam to tension said band, and means aflixed to, a rotatableelement of said mechanism adapted to give a visual indication when said weight is about to be elevated.

2. In a device of the character described, a cyclic mechanism including a cam, and a motor for driving said mechanism, a vertically reciprocable bar including a roller coactable with said cam, a pulley pivotally mounted on said reciprocable ba'r,,a fixed guide bar vertically disposed adjacent said reciprocable bar, a pair of work attaching blocks positioned on said guide bar in spaced relation, each of said blocks including a detachable. Jaw provided with means i for receiving the terminal element of an elec:

.trical conductor therebetween, the lowermost block being adjustably secured to said guide bar pulley and connected to said slidable block. and

said weight respectively, said reciprocable" bar being actuated periodically by saldtin spouse to said mechanismwhereby said pulley is elevated to cause said weight to tension-said flexibleband.-

3. In combinationwith an intermittentamecha nism of the Geneva type including a motor'for'driving said mechanism cally reciprocable member including axr'oller co actable with said cam, a pulley pivotali-y mounted on said member. a guide bar'vertically adjacent said reciprocable member, aiwork se curing means comprisinga supporting block ad Justably secured on said guide. barwith a pair of gears pivoted thereon in meshingjrelation and a serrated segment secured to each of said gears.

in eccentric relation theret'opanda slide block having a slotted anchoring bar attached thereto disposed on said guide bar for movement thereon relative to said supporting block, a weight, means normally supporting said weight, a flexible band disposed on said pulley with its ends secured to said weight and said slide block respectively, said reciprocable member being adapted to periodically tension said hand to elevate said weight in response to the operation of said cam, and iiidicia means carried by a rotatable element-oi said mechanism adapted to give a visual "indi cation when said weight is about to be elevated.

4. In a tensile testing machine, the combination with an intermittent mechanism of the Geneva motion type including a com, a motor, and a reductiongear train between said mechanism and motor, of a vertically reciprocable bar including a roller 'coactable with said cam, a

said weight respectively, said reciprocable bar being adapted to periodically elevate said weight in response to the rotation of said cam by tensioning said flexible member, and indicia means aflixed to an element of said gear train adapted to give a. visual indication when said weight is about to be elevated.

ROY CUMMINGS. 

